Killer robots. Dystopian AI. Machine uprisings. Why are we utterly fascinated with the idea of our gadgets turning against us? Here I unravel our obsession with the rise of the machines and show that a big part of the appeal is really the projection of our own fears and dilemmas.
Read More
Given AI’s dominance and growth potential, there is naturally enormous interest in decoding how AI will impact and shape India’s growth trajectory. To understand the landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) and the Information Technology (IT) industry in India, few voices resonate as profoundly as that of NR Narayana Murthy, the legendary co-founder of Infosys and a pioneering figure in India’s technological journey. With a career spanning decades, Narayana Murthy’s (NRN) insights have not only shaped the trajectory of Indian IT but have also influenced global perceptions of the industry.
Read More
In 2023, a significant milestone was celebrated as the University of Toronto Libraries and Columbia University Libraries marked a decade of partnership in Tibetan Studies collection development and services. This collaboration stemmed from a shared recognition of Tibetan Studies’ historical marginalization in North America, attributed to factors such as geopolitical complexities and the dominance of mainstream disciplines. Together, the two institutions embarked on a mission to address this disparity, striving to increase access to Tibetan resources and foster interdisciplinary dialogue among scholars on both sides of the border.
Read More
In social sciences research, researchers acknowledge their identity and standpoint concerning participants, yet often neglect to integrate this awareness into the analysis phase. Reflexivity is linked to both our self-perceptions and our views of the world, reflecting our personal standpoint. This underscores the importance of recognising the presence of ‘monsters’ within qualitative data. In the context of qualitative analysis, monsters symbolise more than mere creatures of folklore or mythological beings. Instead, they represent manifestations of societal fears, anxieties, and cultural complexities that lurk beneath the surface of human experience. These monsters embody the collective imagination and subconscious of a society, reflecting its deepest fears, desires, and uncertainties.
Read More
Individuals with intellectual disabilities require long-term education in specialized schools or institutions due to their unique learning needs and behavioral habits. Teachers with specialized training are essential in their education process. Based on volunteer experience at non-governmental organizations (NGOs) serving individuals with intellectual disabilities, we summarize common teaching strategies employed by teachers and challenges encountered in teaching to present the landscape of special education in China and to enlighten future LIS research.
Read More
In this first editorial of 2024, I am focusing attention on JASIST’s appreciation for and efforts to support carefully developed special issues. The Journal has a long history of publishing special issues. We have continued this during my term as Editor-in-Chief. To this point, included below is a listing of both active and recently published special issues. A special thank-you to the many colleagues whose work has helped make these special issues such a significant contribution to scholarship and to this Journal!
Read More
The term Metaverse stands for the concept of the emerging virtual world that promises to revolutionize how we interact within digital environments and with each other. To fully grasp its potential and complexity, it is essential to understand it through four distinct but interrelated dimensions: Immersiveness, Social Networking, Persistence, and Interoperability. These dimensions serve as a foundation to appreciate the Metaverse’s unique characteristics compared to concepts and implementations of previous virtual spaces like Second Life.
Read More
Have you ever considered the similarities between information experiences and experiencing different tastes? What does come to your mind when you think of “sweet information”? How about “bitter information”? How does it manifest in the ways we interact with information on various platforms? Can you recall an instance where you encountered information that you initially found “sweet” but later had a “bitter” impact? Conversely, have you ever encountered information that seemed bitter initially but revealed valuable insights after further reflection? How might the taste metaphor enrich our understanding of information experiences? What implications might this metaphor have for information literacy and critical thinking skills?
Read More
We often think of “care” in the archiving context in terms of objects (artifacts, records, documents). GLAM institutions (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums) have a responsibility to protect valuable items with significant social, cultural, and heritage value, and to preserve important information for current and future generations. These institutions work with care to make sure that knowledge is not lost. But what can we learn by turning our attention towards the communities whose knowledges we care for? How might adopting an attitude of care encourage us to look after people and not only their objects? Along this line, how can we change our policies and practices accordingly?
Read More
How do you feel about having a machine as your boss? In the last decade, an important sector of the work world has undergone a major change, thanks to the platform-mediated gig economy. Imagine moving away from the usual 9-to-5 routine in a physical space and stepping into a digital world of short-term gigs and freelancing. This article dives into the socio-technical issues in the platform-mediated gig economy and explores the social aspects of working with algorithms. Get ready for a ride through the gig revolution!
Read More
